Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-26
Editorial Correspondents
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

F~~6
bills being crushed through" are extremsl
remote. Hasty legislation will not be
feature OF this session.
The members Of both houses xre q quiet
dignifed, earnest. thoughtful body of men
Q who seem to feel the weight OF the respons
' bility resting upon them aud who appea
determined to discharge their duties wit
= an eye to the interests OF their constituent
and to the people of the Territory.
The bills which seem to engrosl
the attention OF members at presen
are one which provides for the bette
protection OF females, the on
. concerning wages and wage-earners, on
relating to corporations, one to repea
the gag law, the salary law and n provid
ing for the prohibition of the sale Of intoxi
cants in variety theaters. The bill for tn
better protection OF females has reached 4
stage where amendments are in order anG
where they are made. By many the penal
ty provided in the original bill for . viola
ton OF the law seems too severe, and ar
effort will be made to lessen it from impris
onment for life to imprisonment for from
five to twenty years in the Penitsntiary.
1t is also stated that petitions will be sent
to the legislature for the enactment of q
law providing for severe penalties for the
seduction Of young men under "a years
OF age. 1t is thought by many out
siders, that while the Legislature is en-
gagged in guarding the virtue of one-half
of the people it should not lose sight OF the
innocents who are tempted by the bland.
ishments of the fair but fallen ones.
The "gag law is viewed by some as q
rather tender and ticklish question to
handle, and while it is regarded by a few
as a standing menace to the Iaboring ele-
ment OF the country, there are others who
hold that it cannot possibly work harm,
only to those who violate it. Indications
point to the passage of a substitute for the
present law. in which the objectional fea-
lures OF the existing one will be eliminated
afforded railroad contractors and builders
from the unwarranted interference OF
mischievous and IRE responsible employees.
The present salary law will doubtless be
repealed. Sometime ago Secretary Webb
addressed a circular letter to the several
county %treasurers asking for data in rela-
ton to the working OF the salary law.
Nearly all responded and with but . single
exception-Custer ~county-the treassrers'
reports were decidedly in favor of the old
fee law. Among others who responded to
the call for Information upon the subject
was Mr.. II. C.. Kessler OF Silver Bow
County. The following is his report:
Prom my books it appears that the
sheriff, for the year ending to-day, (Decem-
sum of 50, and the county has paid
him and his deputies Sc, 600. In addition
there has been paid Tor board OF
prisoners, ETC., $5,s25. There are also
accounts of the sheriff a%ggregating
$4,000 not yet settled for which be has
brought suit against the county. The
commissioners and sheriff have been at !
war ever since the act wen into effect. The
probate Judge has paid into the treasury
and has drawn out 50, 300 for
himself and clerk. The deputy clerk Of the
clerk paid in $3.446 and received
$4,000. The clerk and recorder 81, 1920
and drew out 81, 700. In this case the
was benefited, but not the public.
L HC lCcb CHAIkcu dT0 JOO ulSu, ana the l
receiving a salary and not the Gus
fees, let his work 60 behind at
four months, which under the old law
would not have happened. With the as
$4,000 salary. I contend the law
iniuriously affected the county. We
had two years as q test. To nv
dea the assessable property under the
ZEE system would have reached in this
at least 81, 500, 900 to 81, OOO,.
DCO more than it is now assessed at.
too, the officer becomes Indifferent;
le is not eligible to reelection and is sat
SIZED to draw his salary and not make
by a close assessment. The treas
lrer should remain upon q salary COM
nensurate with the duties and response. i
'ility OF his Office, and in addition to the +,
liked salary he should have a percentage /,
IN all licenses collected as an incentive to !
loosely attend to this part of his public q
luty, which alone is in his hands, and \
where the law is not vigorously enforced ?
many thousands OF dollars will be lost to
he county and Territory every year. For L
III Offices OF trust and responsibility I
liberal compensation, and when not 9
wen it is simply a bid for incompetency G
r dishonesty. The outgoing commissioners Z
| this county agree that the present salary .
Ivy has not been to the interest OF the Z
e
councilman Card well, Of Jefferson County, t
as introduced n fee bill which seems to b
'eet with a great deal OF favor. II enacted o
ito law it will materially swell the foot t
'gs OF the assessment rolls OF the counties. 6
The bill to prevent the sale OF intoxi- p
liquors in variety theaters is in the n
ands OF the House Committee on Educa- o
on and Labor. One of the most striking tt
nd seemingly incongruous features in COR
sction with this bill is the fact that it's h.
assage is urged not only by the more o.
oral portion OF the several communities 81
also by the keepers OF saloons, gam O
ing houses and brothels but from o.
fferent motives. While the moral ele. 81
advocates the passage of the bill 81
ON high moral standpoint
e saloons. gambling houses and
'othels favor it from purely selfish
hoping through the operation of T
provisions to obtain the patronage now
slowed upon variety theaters. From
is TACT members view the bill with less es
vor than they otherwise would, believing a.,
at in pulling down the variety theatsr a,
ey would, by the passage OF the bill, Il
llld on its ruinsa greater evil. And then n
ain, the apparently well-authenticated Or
u that certain saloon men and others in ~
lite, through selfish and personal mo- VI
have raised a corruption fund OF ~
900 to carry the variety suppression al
through, will exercise a powerful infu- ri
&c against the measure. The members gr
the present legislative assembly are OF
above the suspicion of being u. -.
ppreachable'' which the raising OF this on
nd would seem to imply. The upshot of the B,
ole matter will probably be either that tn
milling houses and brothels will be nut ca
to the tabooed list or the whole question ~ y
be turned over to the common conn dr.
5 or municipal powers of the cities and tn
WINS to deal with. One fact, however. il We
ought to be plainly developed even this On
rly in the history OF the bill and that il p'
, proprietors OF gambling places, saloons of
d houses of prostitution are anon, the oil
'st ardent outside supporters of the les
assure. ca
Helena is moving along ~ouietlv hnt ~